Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 3, 1 March 2013 — Mālama Nā Koa [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Mālama Nā Koa

By Dane Kaohelani Silva Native Hawaiians have served with honor in the military forces of the United States of America for several generations. For some of us who were constantly exposed to serious threats of danger and death, our spirits have been negatively affected by those experiences. Our reactions to this trauma resulted in years of long-term suffering by us, our families and our close friends. The complete unity of spirit, mind, body and heart known as lōkahi remained elusive to most of us and just seemed out of reach. In 1980, the termPTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, was coined by the American Psychiatric Association in its third edition of Diagnostic and Statisticaī Manuaī of Mentaī Disorders (DSM III). Today, we recognize four types of PTSD symptoms: ( 1) reliving the event, (2) avoiding situations that remind you of the event, (3) feeling numb and (4) feeling keyed up. When the symptoms last longer than four weeks, eause you great distress and disrupt your work or home life, you may have PTSD and should seek help. Unfortunately, an ethnic group of Kānaka Maoli warriors may not be able to find understanding or complete healing within

anthropologist-healer andlicensedacupuncturist Jeffrey Dann, Ph.D., to produce a unique symposiumin Hilo, Hawai'i, on March 15 titled Mālama Nā Koa, whieh means "Care for the Warriors." Together they have gathered a cadre of exceptional healers and other experts with knowledge in the treatment of PTSD to share their eolleetive wisdom and teach the spiritual, mental and physieal protocols for restoring lōkahi in our warriors and our 'ohana. In order to address the needs for eligible veterans to retrain themselves for new jobs, find safe housing and receive sustainable, traditional heahh care, the Hawai'i College of Oriental Medicine (HICOM) in Hilo has originated a Warrior-to-Healer program. Fulfilling a goal of healing themselves and their families is a reality for HICOM student veterans. Veteran students may be eligible for a monthly stipend, tuition support and federal student-loan forgiveness programs. For more information about the Mālama Nā Koa symposium or about the Warrior-to-Healer program at HICOM, please email me at dsilva@hicom.edu. ■ Dane Kaoheīani. Silva is eliainnan ofthe Hawai'i Coīīege of Oriental Medieine.

a Western system of heahh care. Vietnam veteran and licensed aeupuncturist Edyson Kapua Ching has . collaborated with